Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended													6 Months Ended							6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 JPY (¥)	Jan. 02, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 1% Sr. Convertible Notes due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2011 1% Sr. Convertible Notes due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	May 31, 2006 1% Sr. Convertible Notes due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 1.5% Sr. Convertible Notes due 2017 [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2011 1.5% Sr. Convertible Notes due 2017 [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2010 1.5% Sr. Convertible Notes due 2017 [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] JPY (¥)	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2011 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 04, 2010 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] Standard and Poor [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] Moody's [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Alliance Ltd [Member] Rating and Investment Information [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] JPY (¥)	Jan. 02, 2011 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 04, 2010 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] Standard and Poor [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] Moody's [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Partners Ltd [Member] Rating and Investment Information [Member]	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Forward Ltd [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Ventures [Member] JPY (¥)	Jul. 03, 2011 Flash Ventures [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2011 Flash Ventures [Member] USD ($)
Contractual Obligations (Textuals) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes, issued and sold				$ 1,150,000,000	$ 1,150,000,000	$ 1,150,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000
Guarantee of Flash Ventures equipment leases	738,293,000	59,700,000,000								30,700,000,000	380,322,000						357,971,000	29,000,000,000							59,700,000,000	738,293,000	879,000,000
Schedule Of Guarantor Obligations (Additional) (Textuals) [Abstract]
Minimum Rating														BB-	BB-	BB+					BB-	BB-	BB+
External Credit Rating														BB-		BBB					BB-		BBB
Commitments contingencies and guarantees (Textuals) [Abstract]
Firm's ownership in venture business										49.90%	49.90%						49.90%	49.90%						49.90%
Partner's ownership in venture business										50.10%	50.10%						50.10%	50.10%						50.10%
Notes receivable from business venture											1,030,000,000						494,000,000									(1,521,000,000)	(1,232,000,000)
Equity investment in business venture											279,500,000	262,600,000					243,200,000		238,600,000					18,500,000		(541,000,000)	(501,000,000)
Equity method investments reduction in value adjustment											15,600,000		(6,400,000)				3,500,000			4,800,000
Cumulative translation adjustments	239,748,000		231,255,000								77,800,000	76,400,000					73,900,000		72,900,000					200,000
Joint Venture Master Equipment Lease Agreement Amount										200,000,000,000	2,470,000,000						2,500,000,000	202,700,000,000
Joint Venture Master Equipment Lease Agreement Outstanding Amount										61,600,000,000	761,000,000						716,000,000	57,900,000,000
Joint Venture Master Equipment Lease Agreement Guarantor Equity Covenant											1,510,000,000						1,510,000,000
Accrued payments under Indemnification Agreements	0		0
Unrecognized tax benefits from the contractual obligation	204,600,000
Percentage guarantee obligation of company										0.00%	0.00%						0.00%	0.00%
Guarantee of Flash Ventures equipment leases	$ 738,293,000	¥ 59,700,000,000								¥ 30,700,000,000	$ 380,322,000						$ 357,971,000	¥ 29,000,000,000							¥ 59,700,000,000	$ 738,293,000	$ 879,000,000
Description of Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases	The Company leases many of its office facilities and operating equipment for various terms under long-term, noncancelable operating lease agreements. The leases expire at various dates from fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2016.